Slideshow: House fire suspected arson

A woman suffered burns when she went back into her burning home to try and save her dogs. It happened on the morning of Monday, October 13, near 29^th Street and Columbus. Three dogs did die in the fire, and investigators say the blaze was intentionally set.

Courtesy of Fred Bair

The fire broke out in the home of Ernest Kesterson and his 70-year old mother, Mary. “I heard my mom screaming so I came out, and the top of her head was on fire,” says Ernest. “I put it out and carried her outside and then started getting all the dogs out.”

The family owned 29 Yorkshire Terriers, but firefighters say caring for the dogs’ lives almost cost Ernest his life. “I just worry about my mom,” he says. “The dogs are her life. I had to get the dogs out. I didn’t want them to get hurt too.”

Courtesy of Fred Bair

When an off-duty police officer showed up, he ordered Ernest not to go back in the house to rescue more dogs. “These people are very lucky that they made it out alive,” says Tucson Fire Captain Tricia Tracy. “If it wasn’t for that police officer, they might not have made it out alive.”

Three of the Yorkies did not make it, but neighbors swooped in to rescue the other dogs on the property. “We all kind of look out for each other,” says neighbor Tabitha Tobin.

In the meantime, investigators determined that an arsonist set fire to the house. “There are no suspects that I know of at this time, and there’s been nobody arrested,” says Tracy.

Another unanswered question is what the future holds for the Kesterson family, with a lifetime of memories now just a pile of charred remains. “I really haven’t had time to think about it now, you know,” says Ernest. “I’m just worried about my mother.”

Courtesy of Fred Bair

Paramedics airlifted Mary Kesterson to a burn unit in Phoenix. There is no word yet on her condition.

Meantime, Tucson Fire wants to remind people not to run back into a burning house to save something, and instead wait for firefighters to arrive to do that job.